In 2005 I was invited to portray the historic Gandhi in India. Newspaper headlines called me "the American Gandhi." My hosts and the media representatives charged me with bringing Gandhi's message to the world. On return at the encouragement of friends I chose to apply Gandhi's principles to the world's issues and needs.

Friday, April 20, 2012

In 2007 I began this blog for my walk from Faslane Trident Sub Base in Scotland to London England, beginning on May 29th and ending on August 6th anniversary of the Atomic bombing of Hiroshima. I walked as Gandhi in order that I might communicate to all persons the critical need to reorder our lives to prevent possible catastrophes from any or all of the sources: nuclear war, nuclear power, fossil fuel depletion, natural resource loss, climate change. Now, these threats are more imminent and on the verge of catastrophic results.

Climate Change: I spent four hours on April 16th at The Evergreen State College attending a xTED seminar which revealed the analysis that we have four to five years to curtail our emissions before they get out of control. Actually, they are out of control already. The need is to reverse them by 80 % just to limit the already serious damage. We are now at 390 parts per million (PPM) of carbon dioxide, while 350 PPM is turning point. Depending on what we do, the temperature could go from 2 C to 6 C by 2100. We are on track to reach 6 C by 2100!!! We could go from local disasters to global hell.

Natural Resources: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology released a study recently stating that we are on track for economic disaster by 2030 if we do not end our headlong consumption of natural resources with our business as usual way of life. The study used models which came close to the same results as The Limits to Growth revealed 40 years ago. The variables of food, services, industrial output, pollution from a global perspective were examined with the outcome of precipitous decline in population if we do not change now. See Smithsonian.com/growth for an interview of Dennis Meadows, author of The Limits to Growth.

Nuclear Weapons: On January 5th I was convicted with six other persons who blocked the gate to Sub Base Bangor on Mother's Day, May 2011. The judge would not allow me to present the full evidence in my statement making the case for abolishing nuclear weapons based upon International Humanitarian Law. The prosecutor objected to my quoting the Washington State Constitution and the United States Constitution that we, citizens, empower the state to govern on our behalf and have the Nuremberg responsibility to challenge our government's deleterious actions. The judge sustained the motion. My statement also showed that the United States of America is preparing the next generation of nuclear weapons in the spirit of the cold war and not pursuing the abolition of nuclear weapons as required by the Nonproliferation Treaty. The expression of this evidence was denied. (This week India tested a missile capable of delivering nuclear weapons up to 5000 miles distant.) See my web site for a copy of my statement, www.oly-wa.us/berniemeyer.

I continue to resist and to educate here in the US and India. We are in for growing troubles due to these humanly created causes, which are compounded by natural disasters, like the Fukushima tsunami and Japan's nuclear power plants. No one knows how these daunting issues will play out with what results. I'm growing food, simplifying my life, walking and biking as much as possible. I will do all I can to change these realities. I depend on you.

Welcome.

This blog began with my journey beginning April 27th and ending August 19th, 2007. I walked as Gandhi from Faslane, Scotland to London, England with Footprints for Peace and the theme, "Toward a Nuclear Free World." Peace, Bernie

Followers

Uranium and nuclear radiation

Press Release

The American Gandhi’s Participation in the Nuclear –Free Peace Walk Concludes August 6th

(London, UK). The Foot Prints For Peace Peace Walk from Dublin to London will conclude on August 6th in London. The Walk arrives in London on August 4th for an appearance at Battersea Park from 12:30 until 1:30 PM.

August 6th events include a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Commemoration of the atom bombing of Hiroshima, Japan takes place in Tavistock Square from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM. From there the Peace Walk will proceed to Parliament Square activities at 4:00 PM.

The Peace Walkers plan to deliver a powerful message to Number 19 Downing Street.

Bernie Meyer of Olympia, Washington, USA has participated in the walk as The American Gandhi since he arrived in Glasgow on May 25th. He conducted a direct action at Faslane with the Faslane 365 Campaign on May 28th. Read more about his experiences at http://www.theamericangandhi.blogspot.com/

Meyer describes his arrest at Aldermaston, nuclear weapons producer and laser facility. “…Four of us stepped into the gate road to block traffic. Three strong young folks locked hands and feet together... What a team! Police needed special pressure point tactics to separate them before arrest. Meanwhile Gandhi [Meyer] was pushed aside. They did not want to arrest him. Gandhi persisted. He was arrested after the others were hauled off. He kept coming back on the road, despite the loving solicitude of the police. We will be charged with a new law, called the By Laws, which are as vague as the US Congress Guantanamo laws (which were denied by the courts). We are now released.”

Dressed in loincloth and shawl, the 69 year old activist has walked over 700 miles with Foot Prints For Peace, visiting nuclear power and nuclear armaments bases along the way.

Stops were also made at Faslane, Coulport, Sellafield, Dundrennum Firing Range, BAE Systems, Menwith Hill, Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning Center, and Aldermaston. At Aldermaston, Gandhi was arrested again while attempting to give a message about nuclear weapons and nuclear power.

When the journey commenced, Meyer made a statement about his intentions for the long walk: he is attempting to create an awareness of the connection between: global climate change, the effects of peak oil, nuclear war-making and the plight of the poor. "Humanity is at a crossroads," said the American Gandhi.

Having made the trek, Meyer comments that his views have not changed. He says, "If anything, they have intensified." The American Gandhi believes there is much to do, and that humans are able to correct their mistakes as well as bring justice and peace to the world.

Indian Island Naval Weapons Depot Protest Sept. 23, 2006

Winter of Our Discontent, February, 2006

Pt. Townsend Gandhi Portrayal

About Me

I am fortunately a healthy 70 year old who has been through many of life's twists and turns. I thrust myself into activism in 1965 as a young Catholic priest after being raised in a Cleveland Ohio working class family. Soon, I was embroiled in resisting the war in Vietnam, fighting racism, and working to end poverty. I ended up being arrested by both Church and government in separate direct actions in the nonviolent spirit of Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. After raising a family of three children, I now spend my time on the issues mentioned, working with other activists and portraying Gandhi. I have been doing this for the last five years. While portraying Gandhi in India in 2005, I was named "the American Gandhi." I have come to do things like the subject of this blog.
I see peacemaking as beginning with me, with the individual, and extending into all human relationships and organizations, all the to international relations. My book will illustrate my experiences and insights about peace making.